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Dec 11, 2007

ARB Settles with San Joaquin Valley's Todd Plumbing, Inc.

ARB Settles with San Joaquin Valley's Todd Plumbing, Inc.

Failure to meet state smoke emission standards in diesel truck
fleet costs $5,625 in penalties

SACRAMENTO - Todd Plumbing, Inc. of Visalia recently settled
with the California Air Resources Board for $5,625 for failing
to properly inspect its heavy duty diesel trucks for compliance
with the state's smoke emissions standards.

"Violations such as these exacerbate already fouled air in a
part of the state that needs all the help it can get," said ARB
Chairman Mary Nichols. "Our enforcement efforts are crucial to
obtain those emission reductions so needed for Valley
residents."

As agreed in the settlement, Todd Plumbing's staff responsible
for compliance with periodic smoke and heavy duty diesel vehicle
inspection programs is required to attend courses at the
California Council on Diesel Education and Technology. Further,
all Todd's heavy duty commercial vehicle operators shall comply
with the state's idling regulations, supply all smoke inspection
records to ARB for the next several years, and have properly
labeled engines to ensure compliance with the engine emission
certification program regulations.

The ARB's periodic smoke and heavy duty diesel vehicle
inspection programs require annual smoke opacity tests of
California-based fleets. In conjunction with the roadside smoke
inspection program, ARB uses these programs to ensure that all
of California's heavy duty vehicles are properly maintained,
unaltered and free from excessive smoke emissions. An ARB
investigation showed that Todd Plumbing, Inc. failed to comply
with mandated smoke emission standards.

Diesel particulate matter can increase the number and severity
of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis and other lung
diseases, and reduce the body's ability to fight infections.

ARB will direct the penalty payment on behalf of Todd Plumbing,
Inc. to the California Air Pollution Control Fund, which was
established to mitigate various sources of pollution through
education and the advancement and use of cleaner technology.
This fund uses compliance settlement fees to fund various
pollution-related research projects and related programs.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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